Combustion for Christ

A simple picture can illustrate someone or something. When you think of your identity as a Christian, what picture forms in your mind? A heart that symbolizes love? An outstretched arm showing compassion? A bible that demonstrates our dedication to His Word? All these, and many more, can show the world what Christianity stands for.

But have you ever compared yourself to a flame of fire? That may come as a bit of a shock to you. After all, fire has been known to be dangerous and even fatal. But if you read Psalm 104:1-4, you'll see what I mean:

"Praise the Lord, my soul.

Lord my God, you are very great;

you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;

he stretches out the heavens like a tent

and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

He makes the clouds his chariot

and rides on the wings of the wind.

He makes winds his messengers,

flames of fire his servants."

As Christians, we are God's servants. And God's servants are flames of fire! What a powerful picture! In order to understand this illustration, we must first take into account the elements of a flame: 

• Fuel

• Oxygen

• Heat

  
  

When fuel burns, it reacts with oxygen to release heat. This results in the formation of combustion. And a flame cannot survive without having all three elements! Let's dive deeper into this concept and learn how God's servants can create an everlasting combustion for Christ!

Fuel

Fuel is any kind of material that can burn. Flames can burn many materials such as paper, wood, rubber, or fabric. Fuel is what causes something to run. Cars run on gasoline, and trains run on diesel. Likewise, there are different kinds of "fuel" that keep people going throughout the day, such as coffee, meditation, or exercise. The reason for needing fuel is because it gives us energy and helps us to stay focused. Without fuel, tasks would be a lot harder to accomplish! 

As servants of Christ, what do we run on? What gives us energy to get through each day? What helps us set our mind on things eternal? 

1 John 4:9-11

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

When we were sinners, God sent His Son to die so that we could accept His gift of grace and have a relationship with Him. His love is the fuel that keeps us going. And it is that love that brings us peace. It keeps us firm. It sets us free! 

God's love transforms our hearts! When the love of God burns within us, it produces a desire to live obediently in accordance with His will. It keeps us focused in a world full of fear, struggles, and transition. When we feel discouraged, we should remind ourselves of how God's love has brought us peace, hope, and joy. The peace that surpasses all understanding. The hope of eternity with Him. The joy of knowing we have been forgiven. And we are loved beyond measure! 

Oxygen

Oxygen reacts with fuel. When both elements come in contact with each other, heat is released. A flame needs at least sixteen percent oxygen in order to burn properly. Otherwise, the flame dies. 

So how does this relate to us being servants of God? 

Think about how oxygen relates with our bodies. We need oxygen to survive. It helps keep the fuel stay alive in a flame. If God's love is our fuel, what helps to keep it ignited? 

John 14:11-14

"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

This passage is addressed to the twelve disciples. Jesus was comforting them as He prepared them for His departure. Although Jesus performed many miracles, He said anyone who believes in Him will do "even greater things than these." The disciples needed each other once Jesus ascended back to Heaven. They no longer had the guidance of the Son of God. But with the lessons they learned from Him, along with the help of the Holy Spirit, and the partnership and dedication shared amongst each other, they were able to extend Jesus' ministry. They traveled to new places and baptized thousands of people! And the disciples were always sent out in pairs of two. 

Our brothers and sisters in the faith is a vital part of Christianity. Together we help one another keep the love of God alive in our hearts. Consider these scriptures that demonstrate godly relationships:

Hebrews 10:23-25

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Galatians 6:1-2

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

1 John 3:16-18

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth."

As we navigate through this world, at times we will need encouragement. We will need godly advice. We will need prayers, forgiveness, and even a gentle rebuke. All of these actions allow us to sharpen each other (Proverbs 27:17) and give us the tools we need to stay focused on the love of God. They both react perfectly with each other! Remember what a flame needs to survive: at least sixteen percent of oxygen. We can be fueled by God's love, but without relationships, our flame can only burn for so long. God intended for mankind to have relationships. Not only that, but a unity of likeminded people built on the same foundation. We are the body of Christ! And to support one another throughout our Christian walk is one of our greatest duties and blessings!

Heat

Heat is the result of fuel and oxygen coming in contact with each other. This is what creates combustion (the releasing and spreading of heat). But what exactly is combustion in terms of Christianity? What is the heat we create, and how does it spread?

Matthew 28:18-20

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

Combustion is the result of the love of God coming in contact with other Christians who have been transformed by the same love. When that love motivates us, we then work together to serve God, which results in the spreading of the gospel! What we are passionate about will be demonstrated outwardly. It will be evident in what we say and what we do. If God's love burns within us, then we will go into the world and share with others about how His love has changed us for the better. And we hope that sharing the gospel will plant seeds in their hearts, which will lead them to seeking God and experiencing His love in their lives. 

Now that we have broken down the elements, let's read about the disciples in Acts 2:14-41. Once you have read the passage, consider the following examples below:

We can see the love of God working inside of them because they are addressing the crowd in Jerusalem. God's love transformed their hearts because they had a burning desire to be among the people and share the good news about Christ. They were focused on God's love, which was the fuel that drove them to take action. 

In verse 14, the Bible says, "Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd." Peter was not alone! He had many disciples beside him to share in the ministry. He allowed likeminded people to support and encourage him as he spoke to the people. Their shared passion for God gave their fuel the oxygen it needed to stay alive and burning. 

Towards the end of this passage, we see Peter reply to the crowd after they asked him what they should do about their sins. He tells them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. The love of God within the disciples' hearts came in contact with their dedication to work together in sharing the ministry. This resulted in the releasing of their heat (combustion) because the gospel is being shared and spread. That is what Christianity is all about! Showing others the amazing love of God through Jesus. It is about showing others our shared passion, and how we accomplish it when we work together with zealous Christians. 

It all starts with one flame. A flame that burns in our hearts. A flame that ignites as we stay connected with our brothers and sisters. A flame that multiplies, growing brighter and hotter for all to experience. A flame that becomes a wildfire when we spread the gospel to all nations. A flame that can change the world!

What does your flame look like? Is it burning for Christ? Is it at the core of your life? Is it bright for all to see? Are you giving it what it needs to stay alive? When we work together, we can set the world on fire! We can create an everlasting combustion for Christ!